2022-03726. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 24, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on this information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior by email at [e-mail] ; or via facsimile to [phone]. Please provide a copy of your comments to Steven Mullen, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 229, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104; or by email to [e-mail] . Please reference OMB Control Number 1076-0184 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Jeanette Hanna, Deputy Bureau Director, Indian Services, Office of Indian Services, BIA, by email at [e-mail] or telephone at [phone]. You may also view the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on September 7, 2021 (86 FR 50153). No comments were received.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following:

(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: Submission of this information allows BIA to determine applicant eligibility for housing services based upon the criteria referenced in 25 CFR 256.9 (repairs and renovation assistance) and 256.10 (replacement housing assistance). Enrolled members of a federally recognized Tribe, who live within a Tribe's designated and approved service area, submit information on an application form. The information is collected on a BIA Form 6407, “Housing Assistance Application,” and includes:

A. Applicant Information including: Name, current address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, Tribe, roll number, reservation, marital status, name of spouse, date of birth of spouse, Tribe of spouse, and roll number of spouse.

B. Family Information including: Name, date of birth, relationship to applicant, and Tribe/roll number.

C. Income Information: Earned and unearned income.

D. Housing Information including: Location of the house to be repaired, constructed, or purchased; description of housing assistance for which applying; knowledge of receipt of prior Housing Improvement Program assistance, amount to whom and when; ownership or rental; availability of electricity and name of electric company; type of sewer system; water source; number of bathroom facilities.

E. Land Information including: Landowner; legal status of land; or type of interest in land.

F. General Information including: Prior receipt of services under the Housing Improvement Program and description of such; ownership of other housing and description of such; identification of Housing and Urban Development-funded house and current status of project; identification of other sources of housing assistance for which the applicant has applied and been denied assistance, if applying for a new housing unit or purchase of an existing standard unit; and advisement and description of any severe health problem, handicap or permanent disability.

G. Applicant Certification including: Signature of applicant and date, and signature of spouse and date.

Title of Collection: Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program.

OMB Control Number: 1076-0184.

Form Number: BIA-6407, Tribal Annual Performance Report (TAPR) Excel workbook, and the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Reporting Form.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 12,292 per year, on average.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 12,523 per year, on average.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies between 15 and 30 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,185 hours.

Respondent's Obligation: A response is required to obtain a benefit.

Frequency of Collection: Once per year for the HIP Application, HIP Addendum, and TAPR workbook. Quarterly for the GPRA Reporting form.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq ).

Steven Mullen,

Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs.